Anesthesiologist

Overview

When preparing for surgery, many patients think of the anesthesiologist as the "physician behind the mask" who sends them into sleep before the procedure and wakes them when it's over. What they may not realize is how much the anesthesiologist does between those two points.

Anesthesiologists serve a central role in the operating room, making decisions to protect and regulate your critical life functions. They typically are the first to diagnose and treat any medical problems that may arise during surgery or the recovery period.

Anesthesiologists are highly skilled medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the field of anesthesiology. Anesthesiologists are primarily responsible for the safety and well-being of patients before, during, and after surgery. Anesthetics provide continuous pain relief and sustain patients' critical life functions as they are affected throughout surgical, obstetrical, or other medical procedures.

The role of the anesthesiologist extends beyond the operating room. The anesthesiologist is responsible for the preoperative assessment of the patient, an evaluation process that carefully considers the patient's current state of health and the planned surgical procedure. This evaluation allows anesthesiologists to make judgments about the safest anesthesia plan for each individual patient. The anesthesiologist also is responsible for the well-being of the patient postoperatively, while the patient emerges from the effects of anesthesia.

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